# Accident 19990126000759A: Beech A36, Charleston, SC, January 26, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 1999, 16:00 local time
- Place: Charleston, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7810° N, 79.9294° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7810&lon=-79.9294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4976M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT IO520BA
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,375 total, 1,875 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990126000759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT ENGINE FAILED, AND THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 7 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND STARTED TO LOSE OIL, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE STARTED A DESCENT THAT THE PILOT COULD NOT ARREST, AND CONTINUED TO DESCEND AT A RATE OF ABOUT 100-200 FEET PER MINUTE.  THE PILOT THEN HEARD, 'A LOUD BANG...A SHUDDER OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER.'  THE PILOT BANKED THE AIRPLANE, AND HEADED TOWARDS A CLEARING.  THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPEARED TO BE ON FIRE, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO ENTER THE COCKPIT.  HE ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD.  THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AT THE CRASH SITE, AND A HOLE WAS NOTED IN THE CASE AT THE NO. 4 CYLINDER.  OIL WAS OBSERVED ON THE NO. 4 CYLINDER WALL, THE OIL DIP STICK DID NOT SHOW ANY OIL, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT OIL HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE.  THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED ON FEBRUARY 12, 1999, AND THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT OIL HAD LEAKED AT THE ENGINE OIL FILTER ADAPTER.  IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MORE THREADS SHOWING ON ONE STUD THAN ON THE OTHER. A TORQUE WRENCH WAS USED TO CHECK TORQUE ON THE NUTS.  IT WAS NOTED T HAT ONE NUT ROTATED 1 1/2 ROTATIONS BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THE OTHER NUT ROTATED 1 ROTATION BEFORE REACHING TORQUE.  THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER WAS REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION, AND REVEALED THAT THE GASKET WAS FOUND WITH A GAP AT THE CORNER WITH A OPENING OF ABOUT 1/16 OF AN INCH. IT WAS CONCLUDED, THAT THE LEAK CAUSED THE ENGINE TO EXHAUST THE OIL SUPPLY, CAUSING THE NO. 4 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD TO FAIL, WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.                                                    (-23)PILOT REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE DURING CLIMBOUT.  FORCE LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  EXAMINATION OF ENGINE DISCLOSED COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL QUANTITY CAUSING #4 CONNECTING ROD TO BREAK AND COME THROUGH THE ENGINE CASE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA99LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA069), Jan 26, 1999: Beech A36 (N4976M), Charleston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the total loss of engine power caused by an oil leak at the oil filter adapter, resulting in a broken connecting rod, a subsequent forced landing and impact with rough terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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